In the 1970s, the Air Force launched a Minuteman ICBM launched from a C-5 Galaxy. Hold on, what!?!?

That was my reaction upon learning that the above sentence is true.

In 1974, the Air Force decided that it could turn C-5 Galaxy airlifters into flying SSBNs. Yup, Air Force planners thought the missile would be tougher for the Soviets to take out with a preemptive strike if it was already aboard a moving target like a C-5 versus sitting in a stationary missile silo.

So, they loaded a Minuteman into a C-5 that parachute-dropped the 60-foot tall missile out of its aft cargo ramp over the Pacific Ocean. After the ICBM fell for a few thousand feet, its rocket motor ignited and the missile flew for ten seconds under its own power. Just to prove it could be done. Wild.

Needless to say, the crazy concept of turning C-5s into flying boomers never made it to the operational stage.

I remember the test. It was the predecessor of all sorts of things: the Pegasus air launched orbital vehicle, the soon to be Stratolaunch vehicle, White Knight One and Two, and probably a lotta stuff we ain't heard about...for good reason.

C5s are huge. I walked through one during a base open house and it was enormous. I was maybe ten so I didn’t exactly have an adult’s perspective but nevertheless, it was huge and since it was a SAC base, the B52s were off in the distance guarded by MPs so I didn’t have anything close to compare them with. As an adult, I tried to get into a B52 on static display at Travis, we got in the bomb bay but didn’t relish having the MPs escort us off the base or worse, tell my father. The point though is that the B52 although still enormous, wasn’t as big as I remembered.

If the Minuteman was capable from flying from Vandenberg to the USSR, the C5 could only add to the range and it was mobile!

14
posted on 02/24/2012 5:26:37 PM PST
by Lx
(Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)

I think perhaps the bit of trivia that best relates the dimensions of the Galaxy is the fact that the Wright brothers’ first powered flight at Kitty Hawk could have taken place within the cargo area of a C-5.

I think perhaps the bit of trivia that best relates the dimensions of the Galaxy is the fact that the Wright brothers first powered flight at Kitty Hawk could have taken place within the cargo area of a C-5.

I've also heard that you could fit 6 Greyhound buses in the cargo area as well.

We have an American hating administration now. A prime example of this is when we gave away the Eastern Europe missile defense, and got nothing in return, just to repudiate the Bush administration. Dang stupid. Could have been useful in negotiations, but presented as a gift. Weak, naive administration.

I have an old book on the US Air Force (late 70's or early 80's) in which they show plans for converting 747's into massive Tomahawk cruise missile launch platforms. B-52's can only carry 20 Tomahawks, but the 747's could hold 72 missiles on internal rotary launchers.

With the ready availability of parts and trained crews (both air and ground), I've often wondered why the Air Force never went with this plan.

27
posted on 02/24/2012 6:03:32 PM PST
by Stonewall Jackson
("I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.")

You apparently don't understand what is going on. First a question: Name ONE THING Obama has done to help America? He destroys businesses, is destroying the economy, he is driving oil prices up by preventing oil drilling and the pipeline.

You can easily name numerous things he has done to help the Muslims:

Egypt- Going to Muslim Brotherhood

Libya- Illegally used the US Military to attack and overthrow the government

Iraq- The withdrawal of US Forces is the green light to start the terrorist attacks to destroy the government

The real question is WHAT country is Obama's primary sponsor? I bet on Iran. You're probably waiting for CNN to tell you Obama is not a Christian.

28
posted on 02/24/2012 6:07:00 PM PST
by politicianslie
(Obama: America's first Muslim POTUS, doing all he can to destroy America. HELLO, can anyone th)

There was also a scheme at the same time called the “Ground Proximity Extraction System” which involved using grappling hooks tossed out the back of the aircraft to engage arresting cables on the ground to pull the cargo out of the aircraft.

That one didn’t go very far either; I believe it also cost several aircraft in the development process.

41
posted on 02/24/2012 6:58:53 PM PST
by DuncanWaring
(The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)

If the Minuteman was capable from flying from Vandenberg to the USSR, the C5 could only add to the range and it was mobile!

The big benefit was that it was mobile. Silo-based missiles were vulnerable to a surprise first strike. Bombers could be kept aloft, invulnerable to a first strike, but bombers would then have to be able to penetrate enemy air defenses.

A C-5 would have the benefit of a bomber (could be launched on first indication that a strike was imminent, and be called back if it was a false alarm) along with the advantages of an ICBM (hard for an enemy to stop once launched)

48
posted on 02/24/2012 7:29:36 PM PST
by PapaBear3625
(In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell)

but the 747's could hold 72 missiles on internal rotary launchers. With the ready availability of parts and trained crews (both air and ground), I've often wondered why the Air Force never went with this plan.

If you were an airline executive, or Boeing, would YOU want the Soviets to always be unsure as to whether any given 747 flying near the USSR was really a strategic launch platform?

49
posted on 02/24/2012 7:33:48 PM PST
by PapaBear3625
(In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell)

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